Growing up, there were a few desserts that seemed to be on constant rotation. And my grandma’s Banana Cake was one of them.
It was one of the things my mom always made for birthdays, family gatherings, and holidays… and even back then, it was one of my favorites.
There’s just something about it that makes it absolutely delicious, and I don’t usually say that about frosting-less cakes. But the flavor is so good, and the cake is so moist… that it really doesn’t even need frosting! (and I do not say that lightly…)
It’s easy to make – using everyday baking ingredients – and makes a 9×13 inch cake that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. It’s one of our go to desserts for picnics, parties, and get togethers of any kind.
If you’re looking for the BEST Banana Cake recipe out there, this is it. It’s been tested and approved by countless people of all ages… and it’s one of my family’s most well loved recipes!
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🍌 Ingredients
One of the things I love about this recipe is that you’re likely to have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand. Since it’s such an old recipe, the measurements are “particular”… but I would recommend sticking to them. Consider it part of the charm.
- 3/4 c. shortening (I used unsalted butter)
- 2 5/8 c. all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2 c. granulated sugar
- 3/4 c. sour milk (or buttermilk)
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 c. ripe mashed bananas
- 3/4 c. chopped nuts
- 3 eggs, unbeaten
📋 Instructions
This is one of the easiest recipes to make, since all you really need to do is measure, mix, and pour. One thing to note: you can substitute butter for the shortening, but I would definitely recommend using unsalted if you do so. I also recommend using the ripest bananas you can find, as they will yield the best flavor!
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.
- Add 3/8 c. milk, half of the dry ingredients and the bananas to the shortening.
- Mix to dampen, then mix two minutes at low speed.
- Add eggs, nuts, and remaining milk and flour.
- Mix one minute at low speed.
- Grease 9×13 inch pan; pour batter into pan.
- Bake at 375° for 45 minutes.
🍫 Recipe variations
This cake is a classic, and absolutely delicious “as is.” That being said, there are always ways to jazz up a recipe, and here are some of my favorite ideas. Be sure to share yours in the comments!
- Stir regular or mini chocolate chips to the batter before baking
- Add sliced strawberries or whole blueberries
- Top cooled cake with cream cheese frosting
- Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar
- Reduce mashed banana to 1 cup and add 1 cup shredded zucchini
- Omit nuts
🍞 Related recipes
Bananas are one of those things I always seem to have at least a few of… and a few bananas is all you need to make any of these delicious recipes! For any of the baking recipes, it’s best to let them ripen on the counter or a few extra days first.
- Banana Muffins
- Strawberry Banana Bread
- Banana Blueberry Muffins
- Coconut Rum Banana Bread
- Hot Chocolate Banana Bread
- Banana Split Fruit Pizza
- Banana Cream Cheesecake Parfaits
- Banana Split Kabobs
Grandma’s Banana Cake
Ingredients
- 2 5/8 c flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2 c sugar
- 3/4 c shortening I used softened butter
- 3/4 c sour milk
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 c ripe mashed bananas
- 3/4 c chopped nuts
- 3 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.
- Add 3/8 c. milk, half of the dry ingredients and the bananas to the shortening.
- Mix to dampen, then mix two minutes at low speed.
- Add eggs, nuts, and remaining milk and flour.
- Mix one minute at low speed.
- Grease 9x13 inch pan; pour batter into pan.
- Bake at 375° for 45 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Cathy, you made me cry. I love the fact that you made a banana cake for your grandma (my mom) and that you served it on dishes that belonged to her. This cake was one of our favorites when my brothers and sisters and I were growing up.
Love you, Mom. I know that you are watching over us. You would have enjoyed meeting your great-grandchildren. Nine already and more on the way. You would have been so busy knitting and crocheting little things for them.
Glad I could do something to honor her life and your memories of her 🙂
Cathy, This is a pretty good agloany and I do think the blog definitions will vary (formulating a blog post of my own, hmm). I think the Comments are the big difference for me. Unlike static stories, blog posts are dynamic because of comments. They spark discussion, debate, and sometimes, distribution when people share or link back to content. There’s much more give and take between writer and reader. FWIW.
I love this! I’ll make sure Cyndi has the recipe and see if Amy wants to adapt it to make it vegan. I love that Dad thinks all his kids are thoughtful. I think the grandchildren and greatgrandchildren seem to be on that path as well. Love you Cathy. Beth
Thanks, Aunt Beth! Isn’t it sweet that Grandpa commented on all the phone calls…? He was clearly very moved by the support. Thanks for taking the time to read and share – the cake is so good!!
Cathy,
This cake looks yummy, most everything that Grandma makes should be good, right? I hope you’ll share it tomorrow. I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Award on my blog today.
I absolutely love your blog and your recipes.
xoxo
Wanda Ann @ http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
Great memories. Thanks for sharing. Valentines day i made a banana cream pie for my mom. It was and is my parents favorite. My dad wouls just inhale it.
Thanks so much, Wanda Ann! Yes, there is something about Grandma’s recipes that is special. I appreciate the nomination! 🙂
Thanks, Pat. What is it about food that brings back such memories? Pretty amazing if you think about it!
Dear Cathy,
Thanks for the sweet tribute to our Mom and Grandmother.
Barb & family
Thanks, Aunt Barb. My pleasure…glad I could do it 🙂
Cathy-
I feel honored to have been able to taste this masterpiece of a cake that you made. It is absolutely delicious! After reading today’s post, I think I know where your baking gift comes from.
Thanks-to you and your Grandmother-for the wonderful treat.
~Katie
Thanks, Katie! Glad you enjoyed it and can testify to its deliciousness…. 🙂 Thanks for your support.
What a very sweet post! (And I don’t mean just the Banana Cake recipe!) I love the story of your Grandma and Grandpa…and your Grandma’s journals. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your nice comment, Patty! I appreciate you stopping by!
hi cathy… i really enjoyed reading this post about your grandma… what a treasure to have her journals and dishes… the banana cake looks delicious… i’m going to give the recipe a try!
angie
Thanks, Angie. Yes, the journals and dishes do feel like treasures…and the recipes too. I hope you try it – I promise it’s delicious 🙂
Don’t you just adore family recipes?! We have been working with my grandma (87 this year!) to write down all the recipes she keeps in her head so we can continue to make them as the years pass.
This cake looks so delicious!
Thanks Shannah! Yes! Family recipes are the best – such treasures to hold on to. How neat that you are writing down all your grandma’s recipes….great idea.
Thank you so much for sharing. My Grandma passed away about 1.5 years ago and the wonderful age of 91. I have been baking up some of her recipes lately. It is fun and full of memories. It helps me feel closer to her.
I’m pinning this to make with my next batch of really ripe bananas. It looks delish.
Take care,
KC
Yum, this looks so delish. Love banana cake! Thanks for sharing!
Christi
This looks and sounds delicious. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I love to see old recipes – they were so much simpler and seemingly healthier! I will definetely be trying this soon, my daughters will gobble it up! I’m new to your blog and will be back soon, following now. Would love for you to check out my blog, Barefoot by the Sea!
Have a great day!
Jessica
http://www.barefootbysea.blogspot.com
Ohh this is such a sweet post! You are so lucky to have ‘something’ to remember of your grandma. Love that diary she wrote. What a treasure ! I would love to try this recipe in the future as banana cake is one of my favorite and I am sure your grandma’s banana cake is to dye for! Thanks for sharing!
I am now following you through FB and I found you through Kathryn’s party.
http://www.curiositaellya.blogspot.com/
I love your recipes! This looks really good! It is always nice to bake something that was a relative’s recipe…for me in someway when I bake a recipe that was handed down to me and I am reading it in their handwriting, it always makes me feel closer to them. Have a wonderful week:)
These look WONDERFUL! I would love for you to come over and share these on my weekly link up that just went live for the week. http://countrifiedhicks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mondays-with-countrified-hicks-4.html
I just love the records your grandma kept – how special is that ! Her recipe looks delicious, can’t wait to try it.
YUM!
I would LOVE it if you shared this in my Spring/Easter Linky Party! You can find it here: http://littlemomprairie.blogspot.com/p/blog-round-up.html
wow! I love that you have your grandmas journal… an amazing legacy… :o) If my granddaughter ever tries to read my planner no one will be able to decipher the scratches :o) Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays @ Nap-Time Creations. So glad you stopped by! Emily
This is such a beautiful post. And you have such a treasure–your grandma’s journals as well as her cake, which looks absolutely moist and wonderful. Thank you for sharing this cake and your memories at See Ya in the Gumbo this week. It’s nice to have you join in.
Such a good memory and keepsake for the loved grandma. The cake story is a sweet memory too.
The recipe sounds delish, as is the story.
YUM!!! I’ve had banana bread before but never banana cake. I’ll have to get cooking.
http://maryshealthymeals.blogspot.com/
What a beautiful story! I feel like going out and buying a date book to write our day-to-day events in hopes that my granddaughter someday might feel a special connection to me by reading it. 🙂 I’d love for you to share this at my Show & Share link party:
http://www.semihomemademom.com/2013/02/show-share-wednesday-26-and-shrinking.html
Great post, lovely story! I was wondering if omitting the nuts in the recipe would change the time needed for baking, thanks.
Kathy
This cake looks amazing…when should I come over with my fork?
What a sweet and special post, Cathy! Your Grandma’s cake recipe looks amazing and it warmed my heart hearing about you reading and enjoying her precious diary entries. <3 We lost my Grandma about four years ago and my Grandpa lived in the home they bought as newlyweds until he passed away in August. The home they raised my dad in, and that I cherish so many memories made inside of, is right next door to my house. Hearing your story touched my heart so. I don't mean to sound overly sappy (although I am a sap!), but I can't resist saying enjoy each priceless moment you have with your Grandpa as he tells those stories of the "old days". So very special! And, there's nothing quite like a tried and true recipe from your Grandma's kitchen ... Thanks for sharing!
Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com
I’ll take a piece now, please!! 🙂 This looks so yummy. Love your beautiful story, too! Thanks so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent.
Looks so yummy! I love anything banana. 🙂
This banana bread looks wonderful, Cathy, and thanks for the story also. Best wishes, Linda
Priceless, I love this story and it brought tears to my eyes that you baked your grandmother a cake. I bet she smiled and felt your love. I featured you today at Memories by the Mile.
xoxo
Wanda Ann @ http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
This looks so good!! The story was fantastic too! Thank you so much for sharing with us all. 🙂
Jamie
http://www.huckleberrylove.com
What a beautiful post and such a tribute to both you grandparents! It’s so special to be able to read through those diary entries. And the banana cake looks delicious! I am sure your grandma is so proud as she looks down on you 🙂
I LOVE banana baked everything… I’m sure it’s amazing! I’m so glad you came to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell… come back again next week to party with me again 🙂 xoxo~ Ruthie
What a great idea of baking this cake on her birthday! Loved seeing the journal entries too, so fun! Always enjoy coming over and reading your posts and seeing your recipes & projects!
Thanks for sharing @The Weekend re-Treat!
Amazing!
This looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing it on Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. Love the sweet story behind it. My grandmother’s birthday is Feb. 22. She would be over 100 now (I lose track). She passed away in the early ’80s but I always remember her birthday. Miss her.
Hope to see you at next week’s hop!
Sinea from Ducks ‘n a Row
This cake looks delicious and I’m sure it taste delicious too, But I’m sure it doesn’t taste as good as when Grandma made it, it’s just something they do to make it taste so much better :). But that said I do have a question, when you say sour milk, what do you mean, like “buttermilk or letting milk just sour on it’s own? Thanks so much for this recipe :). I have some of my Grandma’s things too after she passed away 🙁 miss her so much too 🙁 .
I love how you are keeping your Grandmother’s memory alive. I have one of my Grandmother’s recipe books. I love seeing her handwritten recipes. This cake looks like a great use for the overripe bananas I often have in my kitchen. I like that you replaced the shortening butter. Thanks for the recipe! Pinning it!
This looks so great!! The story was fabulous as well! Much thanks to you such a great amount for offering to every one of us.
Love your story and my husband and I love your Grandma’s Banana Cake! Moist and dense and tall too! We tried half of it with the recommended whipping cream and the other half with a half-recipe of Confectioner’s Frosting. ( Icing sugar, unsalted butter, milk and vanilla.) l realized that l had turned 60 and had only ever bought bakery Banana Cake. You and your grandparents have helped me remove Banana Cake from my cooking bucket list. Thank you very much for a great keeper recipe!
Awww… I am so happy to hear this. Thank you for letting me know 🙂
easy recipe and it came out great my husband loves all things banana and i’m sure the whole family will enjoy it. going to make some cream cheese frosting to go with altho i’m sure it’d be good with whipped cream or just plain.
It’s delicious any way you eat it… cream cheese frosting will be perfect!
This cake sounds absolutely scrumptious, especially since we here all love bananasI. I too, think that our grandma’s vintage recipes are truly the best. I’m wondering how long to bake this cake, if I made it in a Bundt pan?
I would say to check it 15 min sooner, and keep an eye on it since it will bake quicker.
Thank you for sharing your recipe
Cathy!
Absolutely wow!
I’ve made many banana bread/recipes but this one has got to be my favourite!
I can’t put my finger on it
It’s so flavourful
I thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us.
This one is a keeper!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.It was SO delicious! It is the closest I have been able to find to my own grandma’s banana cake. I made it for my uncle’s birthday (my grandma used to make it for him when he was growing up) and the whole family loved it!